March 18: Education & Workforce Development Summit in Rochester

On Sunday, we had seen a notice of an education meeting hosted by Tim Walz at the Rochester Community and Technical College. We just received more complete information about the Education and Workforce Development Summit from the Walz staff. Here are the details:

Education & Workforce Development Summit
Hosted by U.S. Congressman Tim Walz
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Rochester Community and Technical College
Coffman Building Room 206 / 208
851 30th Southeast
Rochester, MN 55904

Southern Minnesota’s bioscience, renewable energy and medical technology sectors are rapidly evolving. Congressman Walz’s Education and Workforce Development Summit will focus on our region’s changing workforce needs and the highly specialized skills that tomorrow’s workers will need to succeed.  This Summit will explore the labor trends and outlook in our region, the challenges of workforce development, and the role of our education system in southern Minnesota’s economic development. The panel of experts will provide an analysis of these issues, information on programs to train workers for specialized fields and a discussion of  the challenges and opportunities in southern Minnesota’s business environment.

Panelists Include:
Ann Bode, Hormel Institute
Gail O’Kane, Education Partnership Manager for Emerging Technology, MnSCU
Dennis Hampel, Dean of Career & Technical Programs, Minnesota West
John Frey, Dean of Science/Engineering/Technology, Minnesota State University

EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC -

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MATTHEW WOHLMAN, OFFICE OF U.S. CONGRESSMAN TIM WALZ AT 507-993-1284.

227 East Main Street, Suite 220
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
Call: 507-993-1284 (Blackberry)
Email: matthew {dot}wohlman {at}mail {dot}house {dot} gov

Sign up for e-mail updates from Congressman Walz here:  http://walz.house.gov/Signup/

The Rochester Post Bulletin reported on Friday that Minnesota manufacturers say their priority is skilled workers. Governor Pawlenty and Dan McElroy, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, had met with Rochester area manufacturers to discuss their needs. The one common thread was a need for skilled workers.